PARIS — Residents are being encouraged to attend an Aug. 27 planning board public hearing on the possible construction of a Family Dollar store in a residential part of Main Street. 

Last week, the Planning Board gave conditional approval to a plan by Tampa Bay, Fla.,-based Hunt Acquisitions to build an 8,320 square-foot Family Dollar store on a residential lot at 103 Main Street owned by Koriene Low of Minot.

There is strong opposition to the proposal, especially from environmental and historical conservationists from the wider Oxford Hills community.

At least 65 people attended last week’s Planning Board meeting and although members of the public were not allowed to speak at the meeting, some took to social media to voice concern about the project. 

An Aug. 12 “Monday Funday Showdown” posting about the proposed plan on the W.J. Wheeler Insurance Company Facebook page quickly garnered more than 170 responses from readers, almost all of whom were staunchly opposed to the construction of a Family Dollar. 

From the tone of their responses, people were dismayed both by the proposed change to one of the few non-commercial parcels on Main Street and the effect that a new store would have on traffic in the area, which already tends to become congested during peak travel hours. 

The plan, submitted to the Planning Board by Hunt Acquisitions, includes tearing down the existing 19th-century house and barn and constructing a brand new 80-by-104-foot stand-alone building and a 25-car parking lot. 

The property sits between Maurice Restaurant and the McLaughlin Garden and Homestead, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Helga Thurston, chairman of the Garden’s Board of Trustees, on Tuesday urged residents and others concerned about the store to attend the public hearing. 

Thurston said the proposed store could have an impact on traffic, green space and the community but expressed her willingness to find a solution that would be to the benefit of the Gardens and Family Dollar, suggesting conservation and economic development were “not mutually exclusive.”

Planning Board Member Michael Risica said Wednesday he was aware that many people were unhappy with the proposal for a Family Dollar and neighbors had approached him in person to express their dismay about the plan. 

“I told them, ‘look, I can only do what the law allows me to do,'” Risica said. “If you want to voice your opinion, come to the public hearing.”

Risica said he understood why people were upset, but he also wanted to support business growth in town. Residents have expressed concern about high property taxes and Risica said encouraging business growth could help lighten the burden on homeowners.

Attempts to reach Mackenzie Simpson, regional purchaser for Hunt Acquisitions; Corey Sumner, owner of Maurice Restaurant; and Planning Board Chairman Russ Case on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

The public hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Paris Fire Station on Western Avenue.